World Perspectives

Shipping Containers and Food Box Program Still Unsettled

The ag and food supply chain is recovering from COVID and at least two key aspects of that process are becoming policy debates. The first is the ongoing disruption of shipping container availability and the second is the structure of food aid.   Regarding shipping containers, the Ag Transportation Coalition last week sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking the Department of Transportation (DOT) to assist the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to “expedite enforcement options” saying “We need action now, not additional studies” referring to the FMC’s several investigations to date. The FMC initiated Fact Finding No. 29, “International Ocean Transportation Supply Chain Enga...

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livestock

Feeder Cattle Import Update

As summer demand for beef is upon us, fed cattle hit $233 per cwt yesterday, having moved above $200 per cwt in April on tight supplies. The cattle herd as of 1 January was the smallest in more than 50 years, imports of feeder cattle from Mexico have been suspended due to the New World Screwwor...

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12; Power of Ag; Trump Power

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12 Delineating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution from the rights of the states has long been a legal fight in the U.S. Thus, it was notable last night when the U.S. Senate voted 99-1 to remove language from the Big Beautiful Bill that would have restric...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins finally turned positive last week, the first time packers have made money killing cattle since last October. Margins swung dramatically from a -$131/head loss the prior week to a $15/head gain to close out June. The profits came from the sharp rally in beef prices, a $5/cwt...

livestock

Feeder Cattle Import Update

As summer demand for beef is upon us, fed cattle hit $233 per cwt yesterday, having moved above $200 per cwt in April on tight supplies. The cattle herd as of 1 January was the smallest in more than 50 years, imports of feeder cattle from Mexico have been suspended due to the New World Screwwor...

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12; Power of Ag; Trump Power

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12 Delineating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution from the rights of the states has long been a legal fight in the U.S. Thus, it was notable last night when the U.S. Senate voted 99-1 to remove language from the Big Beautiful Bill that would have restric...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins finally turned positive last week, the first time packers have made money killing cattle since last October. Margins swung dramatically from a -$131/head loss the prior week to a $15/head gain to close out June. The profits came from the sharp rally in beef prices, a $5/cwt...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: USDA Reports Offer Few Surprises, Weather Dominates Trade Outlook

The USDA’s Grain Stocks and Acreage reports dominated the CBOT’s attention on Monday with the Noon ET release of both datasets driving the day’s action. There were relatively few surprises in the report but minor deviations from expectations helped create support in new crop s...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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